Directed by Thea Sharrock. Starring Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan and Timothy Small.
In the town of Littlehampton, a scandal is brewing. Devout spinster Edith Swan (Coleman) has been receiving foul mouthed poison pen letters. She lives with her parents and her controlling father Edward (Spall) is convinced that the culprit is their next door neighbour, Irish migrant and single mother Rose Gooding (Buckley) Rose and Edith used to be friends until a falling out, and Rose is rough and uncouth and certainly foul mouthed enough to be the author. The police are convinced, all except for Woman Police Officer Gladys Moss (Vasan) who isn’t so sure that Rose is the guilty party. Can Gladys, along with some like-minded local ladies, prove Rose’s innocence before she’s sentenced?
Let’s be honest here, I’d happily watch Olivea Coleman and Jessie Buckley hurl expletives at each other all day, the addition of a plot is just an added bonus. Of course, there is more to this film than merely some national treasures using language that would make a sailor blush, and while it is funny, the film is somewhat darker than the trailer made it out to be, and it tackles some difficult issues, particularly around controlling behaviour and the place of women in post-World War 1 Britain. That it’s a true story only adds to the charm (though it seems some artistic licence has been taken in places.)
Colman is superb as Edith, playing her as a meek church mouse who’s appalled at the horrible letters she’s receiving, while also secretly thrilled at the attention her newfound fame provides her. When she finally gets to unload her own foul mouthed tirades later on, she lets an impish side through, playing Edith less like a tired spinster and more like a naughty schoolgirl.
Buckley is equally great as Rose (and frankly I’ve yet to see Buckley not be great in anything) with her lopsided grin, easy swagger and foul mouthed delight she’s a joy to watch and livens up every scene she’s in, though much like Coleman her character is deeper than she appears.
Vasan perhaps has the trickiest role of the three, but she plays it with gusto and the film relies on her decent copper who’s slightly horrified by Rose’s language but still believes her innocence and who has to put up with a lot of stupid men above her in the chain of command.
On the subject of men, Spall is excellent as Edward, a nasty piece of work who couches his toxicity in love and Christian decency. There’s nice work from the likes of Gemma Jones, Joanna Scanlan and the ever wonderful Lolly Adefope amongst others.
Yes it’s perhaps a trifle lightweight, and does rely a little too much on the novelty of acclaimed actors swearing, but it’s still a fun watch and a surprising one. I went in with a very clear idea of who was actually behind the letters, half an hour in I had a new suspect, but I was wrong both times.
It’s fluff, but it’s f*%king fun fluff!
werewolves on the moon 